Hydac cuts ribbon at facility in Airlie Business Park

ContributedOfficials from Hydac and Lincoln County cut the ribbon at the company’s new facility in Denver.

SARAH LOWERY

Staff Writer

Airlie Business Park’s first occupant is officially up and running.

The Lincoln Economic Development Association hosted a ribbon-cutting celebration for Hydac Technology Corporation Wednesday morning to mark the official opening of its now-completed 54,000-square-foot facility in the Denver industrial park.

The company has additionally already hired 15 employees at the plant.

As the Times-News previously reported, the Germany-based manufacturer of hydraulics received approval from the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners for an extension to their incentive grant agreement last year, with construction having originally been delayed on the facility.

The initial incentives package was approved back in June of 2010.

Matthias Muller, president of Hydac North America, said during a groundbreaking ceremony last August that the delay was a “question of timing with customers,” adding that it was never a “should-we-or-shouldn’t-we” type of situation.

The company, which is the largest privately held hydraulics manufacturer in the world, has plants in several other states across the country, including Texas, Alabama, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

It has been expanding its presence in the south since 2007, with a sales office operating locally in Huntersville.

Muller has previously said the Lincoln County facility could employ roughly 50 people.

“Our team looks forward over the coming months and years to building a strong, sustainable business for both Hydac and Lincoln County,” said Tom Thielen, vice president and division manager for Hydac Cooling Systems. “We are very confident our vision will become a reality and look forward to the challenges that will come along the way.”

In addition to local public officials, many of the company’s executives were also in attendance at Wednesday’s event, as well as representatives from S.C. Hondros & Associates of Charlotte, the design builders for the project.

The plant’s opening coincides with Hydac’s 50th anniversary this year.

“We congratulate you on the construction of this beautiful, functional facility,” County Manager George Wood said. “It has been our pleasure to work with you on your plant location in Lincoln County, and we wish you continued business success.”